UC Irvine’s Kim qualifies for Buick Invitational

The future looks bright for UC Irvine’s Kenny Kim.

The Anteaters senior shot a four-under-par 68 to win the Buick Invitational Amateur Qualifying Tournament at Torrey Pines South Oct. 20.

Kim birdied the 18th hole for a one-stroke victory over Blake Moore. With the win, Kim earned the one sponsor exemption out of a starting field of 96 players.

He will be the one amateur player to compete against 155 professionals in the Buick Invitational, Jan. 21-27 at Torrey Pines.

Two previous UCI players also qualified for the Buick: Mike Lavery in 2004 and Jay Choe in 2006.

With his latest feat, it has been quite a successful year for Kim, who finished 12th in the Alister MacKenzie Invitational at the Meadow Club in Fairfax on Oct. 9.

He shot a seven-under-par 64 in the first round, that included a rare accomplishment, Oct. 8. He came away with a double eagle. It was his first double eagle, though he has one hole-in-one.

After a bogey on No. 8, he made par on No. 9 and improved again on No. 10, where he captured his double eagle.

“I didn’t see it go in,” Kim said of his shot for double eagle. “Somebody [started] clapping.”

The double eagle proved to be memorable for Kim. He was playing with the first group on that day and his teammates heard the commotion caused by Kim’s shot.

The teammates stopped by to congratulate Kim, and UCI Coach Paul Smolinksi, who’s in his 10th year, said, “Good job,” and gave Kim a high-five.

“That was special,” Kim said.

His 64 score matched his low round, though his previous 64 came on a par 72, rather than the 71 at the Meadow Club. He then shot 69 and 74 in the final two rounds, respectively. Still, it helped the Anteaters finish third out of 16 teams at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational.

Kim is no stranger to success. Before coming to UCI, he helped lead Gahr High to three straight CIF Southern Section titles.

— From staff reports